Bumper



C.. G. ROSS April 2l, 1925.

BUMPER Filed Nov. 22, 1922 5/ MHH j Patented Apr. 21 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,534,248 PAT OFICE.

CHARLES G. ROSS, OF CLEVELAND, OI-IIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM L.

ROSS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BUMPER.

Applicationled November 22, 1922. Serial No. 602,553.

T0 all who/m, it may concer/n:

lBe it known that I, CHARLES G. Ross, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Cleveland, .in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bumpers, of which I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to vwhich it appertains to make and use the same. v

The objects of the invention are to provide an improvement in spring bumpers for motor cars, such bumpers being composed of outer and inner parallel spring bands arranged transversely of the car, one of which is attached to the extremities of the side bars of the frame.

These spring bands are attached together adjacent to their extremities, and the outer Vand inner spring bands are spaced apart intermediate of their ends, and a separate resilient spring band, preferably of bow shape, is interposed between the outer Cand inner spring bands, intermediate of their ends. y

This interposed spring band is preferably attached at its center to one of said transverse bands, and its extremities are slidingly movable upon the other transverse band, thus providing an increased amount of resilience at the center ofthe bumper, which action adds to the amo-unt of protection given to the car, and lessons the shock of impact thereon when a, collision occurs.

The invention also includes means for rigidly securing the transverse springbands together, andmeans for securing the interposed spring band in place.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan of a triple spring bumper; Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 4--4 of Fig. 1 Fig. 5 is a detail of the parts shown in Fi 3; Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a modi 'ed form; and Fig. 7 is a plan thereof.

In these views, 1, 1, are flat spring bands which form the outer or impact portion of the bumper, and 2 is the inner spring band or SUPPOtng member which is substantially parallel therewith, and is connected with the outer spring bands adjacent to their outer ends by means of vertical bars, 3, 3, and 4, 4, and bolts, 5, 5, passing through marginal openings, 6, 6, in the edges of the spring bands, and in this manner the parts are rigidly held together. The outer bars 3 also project over the upper and lower edges of the outer spring bands at 7, 7, thus locking the parts securely together.

The extremities of the outer spring bands are looped at 8, 8, and shoulder bolts, 9, 9, connect them together and are fastened in place by means of nuts. 10 and 10. as shown.

Bolts, 12, 12, pass through the centers of the respective outer bands, and through the coupling plates, 13 and 14. A bowshaped spring band orbuer member, 15, is clamped betweenA the outer spring bands and the plates, 13 and 14, and its outer extremities make contact with the inner spring band, 2. This spring band is secured in place by means of the central bolt, 16, which permits free sliding `movement of the extremities of the interposed spring band upon the inner band.

The outer plate, 13, is provided with horizontal lugs or ribs, 17, 17 which separate and interlock with the outer and interposed spring bands, and the outer and inner vertical plates, 13 and 14` clamp them securely together, as shown in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 5, the clamping plates for the outer ends of the band springs, 1 and 2, are shown, and in Fig. 4 the central clamping plates are shown.

ln Fig. 4, the bolt, 16, connecting the inner spring, 2, and the outer springs, passes loosely through the inner spring, 2, and forms a support on which the inner spring ismovable when the outer springs are compressed. The resiliency vof the interposed sprin' 15, is therefore not interfered with and t e body of the bumper is much more resilient at its central part.

In Figs. 6 and 7, the extremities of the large inner spring, 2, are secured to the terminal bolts, 25, 25, thus making them slightly more resilient.

.l Having described the invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. in a bumper for a motor car, in combination, a pair of elongated outer springs vertically spaced apart, and an elongated inner spring having its body portion laterally spaced from said outer springs, clamping means for securing said outer and inner springs together adjacent to their extremities, an intermediate spring interposed between the aforesaid 'outer and inner springs, clagmping means for securing said outer springs and said intermediate spring together, and a connecting means for the central portion of said inner spring and Said outer springs,y said connecting means permitting lateral movement of said inner spring thereon.

2. In a bumper for a motor car, a pair of vertically spaced, elongated outer spring members, shoulder bolts connecting the adjacent extremities thereof, an elongated inner member'having its body portion substantially parallel therewith, outer and inner plates between which the extremities of said springs are secured, the adjacent edges of said springs being provided with opposed recesses, and holding bolts passing through said plates and recesses, an intermediate r spring interposed between said outer and inner springs and having its extremities slidably movable on said inner spring, outer and inner clamping plates between which said outer and intermediate spring are secured, and a guide bolt for the body of said inner spring, said inner spring laterally movable on said bolt, said -boltsecured to the clamped connection between said outer and intermediate springs.

3. In a vehicle bumper, a pair of transversely positioned and substantially parallelfront spring members, vertically spaced apart, a rear spring member substantially parallel therewith and having its extremities secured at a level between the levels of the extremities of said front members, and an interposed spring member, said interposed spring member having its extremities bearing upon said rear member and cen- ,t1-ally positioned between said front members, clamping plates for securing said front members and interposed member together,

and a bolt secured in the central part of said interposed spring, and passing through said rear member, said rear member freely movable on said bolt.

4. A bumper of the class described comprising, in combination, transversely extending supporting means, impact means including a pair of spaced members arranged one above the other in a common vertical plane and having their respective extremities connected to the respective extremities ot said supporting means, a bowed resilient buffer member interposed between said supporting and impact means and having its medial portion adjacent one of, and its extremities bearing against the other, of said means, and a device connected to said means for holding said buiier member in operative position, said device being adapted to limit spreading of said means but permitting movement of the impact means inwardly relative to the supporting means.

5. A bumper of the class described comprising` in combination, a transversely extending supporting member, a pair of spaced impact members arranged one above the other in a common vertical plane and having their respectiveextremities connected to the respective extremities of said supporting member, a bowed resilient buffer barhaving its medial portion adjacent said impact members and its extremities bearing against Vsaid supporting member, and a device connecting said impact members with the medial portion of said buffer bar and said supporting bar and so arranged that movement ofy said impact members away from said supporting member is limited but movement of the impact members inwardly relative to the supporting members is permitted. v

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my Vhand this 27th day of October, 1922.

CHARLES G. ROSS. In presence of- CHAs. F. SIPE, WM. M. MAURER. 

